Car door operating and locking mechanism



Sept. 20, 1938. J. J. M BRIDE CAR DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 20, 1935 0 72 ride 8)" Q Q4 jTiOR/VEY Sept. 20, 1938. J. J. M BRIDF:

CAR DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 20, 1955 A? m H r5 WW4 J a n J w 6 a A2 3 z 2 \I/ J .i ll 'lll 111 1| WW ,1. 4 0 /a a M1 2 Sept. 20, 1938. J. J. MCBRIDE CAR DOOR OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 20, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 jTTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES CAR DOOR- OPERATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM John J. McBride, Bayonne, N. J.,

assignor to American Car and Foundry Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 20, 1935, Serial No. 50,704

9 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms for operating and locking doors, particularly sliding doors adapted for use on freight cars. The majority of prior constructions have been complicated and expensive due to the fact that separate actuating and locking means were provided. It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, rugged and efficient operating and locking mechanism wherein the number of parts is reduced.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism wherein the locking member is so formed as to permit application of a powerful initial opening or final closing force upon the door.

A further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism wherein the initial opening or final closing of the door may be accomplished by application of the operators weight upona lever.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism which may be applied to a car and not project beyond the door plane.

These and other objects will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a study of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with a the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the mechanism applied to a freight car and showing in dotted outline the position of partsin readiness to apply an initial opening force to the door;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and. 4 are sectional views taken on lines 33 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the device with the parts in position for application of a closing force;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the door as slightly opened and the mechanism in position to continue the opening of the door as shown by dotted lines;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modification thereof;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the modified form shown in Fig. '7;

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken on lines .L-S and ill-40 respectively of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a modification of the securing means whereby the lock is secured to the door, and I Fig. 12 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 11 but showing a still further modification.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it is seen that the mechanism proper is composed of but three parts, namely, operating or locking arm A, rocking or movable fulcrum arm B and the final locking or retaining means C. In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive the operating or locking arm is shown as attached by eye 2 to door stile 4 in such a manner as to be within the outer plane of the door. The arm is provided with a plurality of notches 6, 8, l3 and I2, each of which may engage a pin l4 carried upon the upper end of the movable fulcrum arm. The fulcrum arm is formed with a central opening l6 adapted to rotatably engage a projection or pivot I8 provided on casting 2i] suitably secured to the car side adjacent the door jamb and spark strip 22. A bolt or other means 24 and washer 26 retain the fulcrum arm in position upon the projection, while weighted end 28 insures that the pin M will always be uppermost and in a position to be readily engaged by the operating arm notches. The outer end of the operating arm is provided with a handle portion 30 and a plurality of holes 32, through which a retaining pin 34 may be passed. The retaining pin engages the proper set of holes 36 in clevis 38 which is fastened to the car structure by chain 40 and eye 42. The retaining pin to prevent loss is fastened to the chain 4!! by a small chain 44 and is also provided with an opening to receive the usual sealing means 46.

. It is readily seen, as viewed in Fig. 1, that whenever the pin 14 on the movable fulcrum arm is to the right of the vertical plane through the pivot and is in engagement with a notch of the operating arm that any downward force applied to the handle will be vastly multiplied and will act upon the door to cause pivot that any downward force applied to the handle will cause a closing movement of the door. The mechanism is as can be seen essentially a toggle arms, being made adjustable or readily movable in order that a plurality of powerful opening impulses may be imparted to the door. A single notch is provided for closing the door, since normally the door will of its own momentum go practically closed, but if it is necessary to obtain a plurality of closing impulses, it is only necessary to provide additional notches on the operating arm.

The door is readily locked in the closed position, for as seen in Fig. 1 after forcing the door closed from the position as shown in Fig. 5, it is only necessary to retain the handle in the lowered position by inserting the retaining pin 34 through the clevis and arm. Any door opening tendency is absorbed by the pin M of the fulcrum arm and by the chain 40 as is obvious.

In the modification shown by Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive the operating arm is attached to the door stile by means of bracket and is provided with slot 52 having notched ends 54 and 56. The arm adjacent the slotted portion is provided with an offset portion 58 similarly slotted to thereby form a guideway for movable fulcrum arm Bil, the upper end of which is provided with pin 62 riding it to open. It is also obvious that with the pin Hi to the left of the U with the off-center joint between the two casting as shown has two notches 65 and 66 for closing the door and two notches 61 and 68 for opening the door. The number of notches is, of course, purely a matter of choice as in some cases more'than two may be desired.

The final locking is accomplished in this modification by means of a casting having a base portion 10 secured to the car wall and from which projects a suitably braced web 12 carrying at its outer end an upwardly facing U-shaped socket 14 between the spaced walls of which the operating bar may be positioned. Locking pin 16 is adapted to project through openings in the spaced walls and the operating bar, thus retaining the bar in the lower position. The locking pin is adapted to receive the usual car seal 18 and safety chain 80.

The operation of this mechanism is very similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 6, the main difference being that the fulcrum bar may have both its points of contact shifted. It is plain from Fig. 'Tthat with the fulcrum bar in the dotted positiona downwardly applied force on the operating handle will cause opening of the door, while with the fulcrum bar in the opposite end of the slot or full line position that any downwardly applied force tends to pull the door closed. In this modification the locking takes place direct- 1y due to the fact that the operating bar may react directly against the retaining pin; however this pin is relieved of part of the strain by the fulcrum bar.

The manner in which the operating bar is secured to the door stile is immaterial, but that shown in Fig. 1 is the preferred type. In the form shown in Fig. 11 an eye 82 is riveted to the stile and as is easily understood it permits of free vertical and outward or horizontal movement of the operating bar or handle.

The modification shown in Fig. 12 varies only in that a rivet 86 or other means fastens the operating bar to the stile. The rivet will, of course, permit vertical movement of the bar and in order to permit any necessary horizontal or outward movement of the bar the hole is enlarged as at 88 and clearance is provided between the rivet head and bar.

It is, of course, obvious to one skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements of the device may be made and such modifications and improvements are contemplated as fall within the scope of the following claims which define that which applicant considers as new.

What is claimed is:

1. In a car door operating mechanism, an operating member constituting a lever movably secured to the door, an independent movable fulcrum adapted to engage a portion of said operating member, a fixed member secured to the car adjacent the door, and provided with a plurality of spaced portions adapted to engage said movable fulcrum to vary the throw of the lever when pressure is exerted on its free end.

2. In a car door operating mechanism, an operating member movably secured to the door, a slot in'said operating member, a movable fulcrum arm having one end adapted to engage the ends of said slot, a fixed member secured to the car adjacent the door, and notches in said fixed member adapted to be engaged by the opposite end of said fulcrum arm.

3. In a car door operating and locking mechanism, an operating member movably secured to the door, a slot in said operating member, a movable fulcrum arm having one end adapted to engage the ends of said slot, a fixed member secured to the car adjacent the door, notches in said fixed member adapted to be engaged by the opposite end of said fulcrum arm, and retaining means secured to said car to lock said operating member against movement.

4. In a car door operating and locking mechanism, an operating member movably secured to the door, a slot in said operating member, a movable fulcrum arm having one end adapted to engage the ends of said slot, a fixed member secured to the car adjacent the door, and a plurality of notches in said fixed member adapted to be selectively engaged by the other end of said fulcrum arm.

5. In a car door operating and locking mechanism, an operating member constituting a lever movably secured to the door, a slot in said operating member, a movable fulcrum arm having one end adapted to engage the ends of said slot, a fixed member secured to the car adjacent the door, and a plurality of oppositely disposed notches in said fixed member to be selectively engaged by the other end of said fulcrum whereby the throw of the operating member mat be changed, upon application of pressure to its free end.

6. In a car door operating and locking mechanism, an operating member constituting a lever movably secured to the door, a slot in said operating member, a movable fulcrum arm having one end adapted to engage the ends of said slot, a fixed member secured to the car adjacent the door, a plurality of oppositely disposed notches in said fixed member to be selectively engaged by the other end of said fulcrum whereby the throw of the operating member may be changed, and retaining means secured to said car to lock the operating member against movement.

7. In a car door operating and locking mechanism, a pair of members detachably engaged when the door is in closed position, one of said members comprising a lever pivotally connected to the door and formed with a plurality of recesses and the other member comprising a weighted arm pivotally secured to a stationary car part and formed with a fulcrum adapted to engage either of said recesses to vary the throw of the lever when pressure is exerted on its free end.

8. In a car door operating and locking mechanism, an operating member constituting a lever movably secured to the door, a slot in said operating member, a movable fulcrum member suspended at one end between the walls defining said slot and being shiftable therein, a fixed member secured to the car adjacent the door, and a plurality of notches in said fixed member to be selectively engaged by the other end of said fulcrum whereby the throw of the lever may be varied upon application of pressure to its free end.

9. In combination with the relatively stationary member and a sliding door member, an operating arm pivotally connected to one of said members, a fulcrum member arranged for pivotal engagement with the other member and being shiftable to opposite sides of its pivotal point for engagement with spaced portions of said arm for varying the throw of the lever when pressure is exerted on its free end and fastening means for said arm.

JOHN J. MCBRIDE. 

